Beating the drums louder, decorating homely corners even in the streets and cheering 'Ganpati Bappa Morya..' more aloud than ever, the state of Maharashtra has welcomed Lord Ganesha for the ten day annual festival on the lands!
Setting a grandeur high for the God of intellect, culture, erudition and for the one who is worshipped as the first of all Gods, folks and communities in India get a pagan symbol of deity at home and adore lord Ganesha for his immortal existence. People also honor Him by offering prayers and dish out sweets, modaks and ladoos a special.
In Maharashtra, Ganeshotsav also incorporates other festivals, namely Hartalika and the Gauri festival, the former is observed with a fast by women on the day before Ganesh Chaturthi whilst the latter by the installation of statues of Gauris.
The basic motive behind actually celebrating this festival lies in the history when Bal Gangadhar Tilak in the city of Pune decided to get the disturbed community together in the British era. The leader saw the need to unite Indians more and realised nothing can bond people more than a common idol, equally worshipped by all.
While some historians are of the opinion that the earliest instances of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations can be traced back to the times when Satavahana, Rashtrakuta and Chalukya dynasties ruled, that is from 271 BC to 1190 AD, historical records suggest that Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations were initiated by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, to promote culture and nationalism.
Vinayaka Chaturthi that falls in the months of August or September according to the Gregorian calendar celebrates the birth of Ganesha. The festival is marked by the installation of Ganesh deities in marquees across the country as well observing of the rituals in homes.
The ten day festival is celebrated throughout India in places like Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. However, it is in Mumbai that the festival is celebrated in the grandest manner, with around 1,50,000 immersed annually.